Erdoğan to attend NATO summit

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said he will attend the NATO summit in Brussels on March 24 and hold talks on the process regarding Russia and Ukraine.

“The NATO Leaders’ Summit will take place on March 24. We can have the opportunity there to continue our talks from where we have left off. That is so because the process between Russia and Ukraine is continuing. As the two NATO allies, we will have the opportunity to discuss once more what can be done and what kind of steps can be taken,” he said, speaking at a press conference with his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, on March 16.

“We have agreed on the need to speed up diplomatic efforts to stop the war. As Turkey, we continue our attempts aimed at achieving a ceasefire,” Erdoğan stated.

Referring to the talks that Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu had with his Russian counterpart on March 16, and a planned meeting with the Ukrainian foreign minister on March 17, Erdoğan said Turkey has been conducting intensive shuttle diplomacy.

Erdoğan drew attention to the exemplary stance Poland displayed by opening its doors to refugees fleeing the war.

“Having hosted the largest number of refugees in the world for eight years, Turkey understands Poland best,” the president said.

Duda, for his part, said approximately 2 million Ukrainian refugees had entered Poland. “According to our calculations, 100,000 people cross the border every day. Today, we can talk about a refugee crisis,” he said.

The Polish president said his country, along with economic collaboration, wants to enhance military cooperation with the Turkish government.

Meanwhile, Erdoğan had a phone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, on March 16.

Erdoğan talks with Putin over phone

Erdoğan held a phone call with the Ukrainian president recently, during which he underlined their intensive efforts on the diplomatic track for the restoration of peace between Russia and Ukraine. He stressed that Turkey’s goal was the rapid establishment of lasting peace as continuing the war will benefit no one, the Presidential Communication’s Directorate said in a statement.

Erdoğan added that he would continue his efforts aimed at bringing Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin together.

Pointing out that Turkey continued its delivery of humanitarian aid to Ukrainians both in Ukraine and in neighboring countries, Erdoğan emphasized the importance of the effective functioning of humanitarian corridors.

Meanwhile, Erdoğan also spoke to Putin over the phone and discussed latest developments in Ukraine as well as humanitarian situation on the ground.